In very hot weather I want to truly relax, see friends and keep as cool as possible. This menu is perfect for all three!
Make-ahead, casual and – most importantly – easy, this summery feast is just the thing to enjoy as you slowly unwind with friends.
A Relaxed and Summery Dinner Party Menu
Pita Chips with Hummus and Tzatziki, Mixed Olives
Marinated Chicken Breasts with Lemon
Greek Pasta Salad
Lemon Semifreddo
Dress up a shop-bought hummus with a little olive oil, but do make your own tzatziki, which is really worth doing yourself.
Toss shards of pita bread in olive oil and lots of salt, then bake in a hot oven, tossing two or three times, until crisp and golden. Pile up on a platter, grazing board-style, and let everyone help themselves.
A couple hours before your friends arrive, make the Greek pasta salad. Leave the feta out until the last minute if it’s very hot, to avoid any risk of spoilage.
Using this recipe, marinade the chicken a few hours before you cook it. Then whenever you want to eat, throw it on a hot barbeque for 12 – 15 minutes, depending on size, then leave to rest for about 10 minutes. Hack up the chicken into large pieces and serve with wedges of lemon.
A refreshing end to this summery meal, lemon semifreddo cannot be beaten. Cold, with a dreamy texture, and very, very lemony, it’s just the thing to wind down a summer evening.
The best part about this menu is just how relaxed it is, which is just how it should be. And if you’re relaxed, everyone else will be, too.
Caroline Feeds 